Running Bear's September 2026 Coffee Shop

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So, how many liters is a half tablespoon?
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Even handles misspellings. No need for an app any more.
 


I also have a metric hammer and metric prybar.
Don't forget the adjustable Metric wrenches.

I told that one to my mechanic and he said, I've got Left-handed one, and got two Crescent wrenches out of his tool box. He showed me that one reads correctly if held in the right hand, but upside down text in the left. Then he passed me the other, and it was right side up in the left hand!

Pic to show that I only have right-handed adjustable metric wrenches. That's my left hand holding it
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OK, I just had a weird thought on layout design.

I'm still thinking of ways to reclaim some of the floor space my W shaped benchwork occupies, and have been been considering a long run |_____| shaped shelf layout. Two foot out from the wall around the long and two short walls in the basement would give me more than the footprint I have now. And leave me room to have an exercise bike, and such in the basement.

However, that kills continuous running.

Maybe?

Not sure if it's possible to have a small "yard" set up at each end. And a loco at each end. Have some arduinos involved, and when the loco pulls the train into the yard, the arduino somehow stops it??? (is that even possible? Kill power to the end of the track?


Then power on the other track with the second loco. it heads out. gets past the turnout for where the train is parked. Stops, reverses, couples to the back end. then pulls out and runs down to the other end. Would need a third loco at the other end. Do the the same parking of the train, flip the switch on the third engine, and away they go.

Or, I suppose you could do the same with head and tail end power on the consist. Just have to figure out a way to automate the stop and reverse run at each end.

Anyone (who is smarter than me) want to figure it out?
 


So an American "dash" of salt vs metric "dash" of salt would be......?

Hot is the same in Fahrenheit or Celsius. And of course it follows that cold would be also. I don't mean that cold would be the same as hot, don't try to confuse me here.

A solar powered flashlight.
A left handed hammer (vs right handed) or handsaw (visa versa).
A mans gotta have a full selection of tools these days.

Train show this Saturday & Sunday at the Plano Convention Center in Plano Texas.

Carry on....John
 
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Evening folks, currently 88 and a little muggy from yesterday's 3/4" of rain (finally!) It was late in the evening but the ground has already sucked it all up.

My most recent purchase arrived yesterday as well. Since I don't have a layout for continual running, I bought a set of Bachmann EZ Riders to run locos after I disassemble, clean, and re-lube them. Had this one going for 10-15 mins at half throttle, from what I could tell neither truck had any grease them before teardown.

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It was a nice sunny day today, so my wife came by. She brought some snacks for me and took my suitcase back because I can’t carry it.. I was nice enough to load it up with my dirty clothes.. she also brought my backpack so when we make our escape on Saturday, I have something to carry my iPad and the rest of my clothes back.
 


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